While it seems to have been able to hang on to one key element – Chloe Grace Moretz remains aboard to star – Universal and Working Title’s planned live-action version of The Little Mermaid just doesn’t seem to be able to lock down directors. The companies are hoping they have more luck with indie filmmaker Rebecca Thomas, who is now in early talks for the job.
As opposed to the wave of Disney live-action fairy tales, which tend to channel elements from both the original stories and their cartoon output, this one is drawing more from the Hans Christien Andersen moral quandry about the young mermaid who dreams of a life among humans but makes a terrible deal to have her wish come true. Working Title stalwart Richard Curtis is on script duty, so he’ll be bringing his input to the style and tone of the film.
Thomas drew praise for her 2012 indie Electrick Children, which led to plenty of interest from studios. She’s currently preparing to direct the latest John Green adaptation, Looking For Alaska, which will likely shoot before Mermaid even if she does take the aquatic gig, previously considered by Pan’s Joe Wright and Lost In Translation’s Sofia Coppola. The aim is to have the film ready for a 2017 release.